Graduation Practice
May 27, 2016
May 27, 2016 Practice from 9 a.m. after Group
Photo by Kay Brown Photography– until finished
Graduation Dress Required to be in Photo.
Senior Group Photo at 9:00 a.m. by Kay Brown
Photography
1.
Roll Call – Brandy White
Official List from Guidance for Marching
Order
2.
Pass out Project Graduation information –
Captain Code
3.
Alpha march and verification of formal names,
per guidance department – M. Carroll
Make sure that the seniors are lined up at the
stage side first. . .makes it faster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4.
Seniors who “owe” a debt should have been
contacted by Mrs.Joyce Gunn, Finance
Specialist, by this time.
5.
Parking – Mr. Pippins
Reminder:
There will be no time to wait for seniors to correct situations they knew in advance not to
create. Neither the practice nor the ceremony will be sacrificed for the many, because of
the one, two, or few. Your Graduation Bulletin has been specific. Each senior has been
reminded to read it including any updates carefully and to abide by all of the
instructions. Graduation Bulletin is located on website for added convenience.
Mrs. Heather Crumm: Val., Sal., Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum
Laude will have been announced and will have been recognized at Senior Honors Night.
Completion of graduation requirements for ability to march during Commencement
Exercises will be done by Mrs. Heather Crumm. Guidance Department furnishes list
per the aforementioned categories. We will not take time to “recognize” or award
any recognition to anyone who did not come to Senior Honors Night.
Captain Code: Answers any last minute questions concerning Project Graduation.
Mrs. Joyce Gunn has identified those not cleared. They do not march, if not cleared
before practice gets underway.
Mrs.Brandy White: Reminds about required dress. All of the dress code requirements
are spelled out in detail in the Graduation Bulletin.
BIG “flashy” earrings and/or necklaces and/or bracelets are not allowed and must be
removed. No jewelry that is “flashy” is to be seen outside the gown. Simple pearls
and/or necklace is fine. Everything has been spelled out in the Graduation Bulletin. Each
senior has received a copy in hand at the senior meeting in January and one posted on
school website. During meeting in spring, highlights of the graduation requirements,
including dress were covered in meeting with seniors. In addition, each senior has been
given a mandatory practice reminder. Consult the Bulletin for senior group portrait
details.
Reminder: Gowns are to be turned in as soon as graduation is over. Gowns
MUST be turned in ASAP after the ceremony to be inventoried and boxed for shipment
ASAP. Graduates will report to the Media Center where you will turn in your gown.
Make sure all Honor pins are off. Once cleared and given a “Clear” slip, graduates will
proceed to the attendance window to sign the class banner and to pick up your diploma.
There are volunteers waiting to help give each of you YOUR diploma. Do not keep them
waiting or you will need to return on Monday to pick up your diploma. Only graduating
seniors may sign the banner. If you are a senior and you are not qualified to march and
graduate neither on graduation day nor at summer graduation, you may sign the banner
when you finish the necessary requirements to get your diploma. Seniors who will
participate in the summer graduation ceremony will need to contact Mrs. Gunn for gown
arrangements.
Practice begins.
Line up for the processional along the breezeway wall adjacent to the gym: Val.,
Sal., Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude, and then alphabetical order.
Tassels on the right! The Val. and Sal. will proceed to the stage and will assume their
correct station. Deputy will monitor.
Once all of the seniors are lined up outside the gym, coming from the cafeteria down
Wing D on graduation day, they should be lined up two-by-two, Mrs. Brandy White,
Captain Code, and Dean Johnson will be there to monitor the seniors as they march into
the gym. Seniors will be checked closely to ensure that they do not have contraband
items on their person.
Seniors march in two-by-two and should split at the beginning of the first aisle. The
senior on the right side of the twosome should continue to the second aisle and should
march up the aisle. Both seniors from the twosome should arrive at the chairs at the same
time.
The first row will “drop off” at the appropriate chair, starting at the stage side. Beginning
with the second row, the first senior for that row will enter the row from the right-hand
side and will march down until he/she is at the last chair (one closest to the stage). All
other rows will do the same.
Processional: March 2 x 2 until the two separate at the first aisle. Do not crowd the ones
in front. Remember, people are going to be taking pictures as seniors march up the aisle.
Give them a clear view, but do NOT stop. March to the music.
REMAIN STANDING!!!
The senior who will lead the pledge will stand by at the steps out of the way of the
seniors who are filing in. When the last senior goes by to assume his/her place in the last
row, the senior who will do the pledge will go onto the stage. (If the cadet is the Val or
sal, then he/she simply goes to the appropriate seat on stage.)
The cadet/senior who will lead the pledge steps to the lectern and says, “Please
remain standing for the Presentation of the Colors and for the Pledge of
Allegiance.” If a male student, the cadet/senior removes his mortarboard (cap)
as a signal to all of the senior boys to remove their caps. This is also the signal
for the NJROTC unit to begin their entrance from the back of the gym-audience
area.
When the NJROTC unit is in place in front of the stage, the senior leads the pledge. At
the end of the pledge, the NJROTC unit Posts the Colors (puts flags in place) and the unit
retires to the back of the gym. Senior who says the pledge stands straight, facing
forward with eyes on the cadets as they exit.
As soon as the cadets have cleared, he/she should say, “You may be seated.”
All of the audience, seniors, and people on stage will sit. Seniors will sit in UNISON!
All together!!!!
This is the key for the male seniors to replace their mortar boards (caps). The senior who
led the pledge steps back and goes down the steps and goes to his/her seat. By the time
the senior who said the pledge is in place, all mortar boards should be back on.
As the senior who said the pledge exits the stage, the class president, lets him/her pass
and then should go onto the stage. (Not an issue if the cadet saying the pledge is the Val
or sal.)
The class president steps up on stage and goes to the lectern.
The class president does the Welcome, which should be approximately 1-2 minutes.
The class president, as the seniors march in, should assume his/her place to the
backside of the steps leading on stage. At this point the class president does not
enter the row in alphabetical order, for that would mean he/she would have to
come out of the row for the pledge. The class president will be seated at the end
of the rows, next to Captain Code, to facilitate easy entrance onto and off the
stage. After the welcome, the class president goes to his/her appropriate honor
and/or alphabetical order seat within the seniors.
If the class president is a member of the Senior Ensemble, he/she moves to the staging
area, and the other members of the ensemble quickly assemble. Reminder for the
ensemble not to talk. Coordinate efforts for some to assume positions from all sides and
front, so as not to “bunch.”
Salutatorian If not part of the ensemble, when the seniors have made it back to their
respective places, after the ensemble selection, he/she steps to the lectern. The
Salutatorian’s speech is looking back in time, reflecting on the memories of the class.
The speech is between 3 to 5 minutes. No more, no less.
The Valedictorian should give the Salutatorian time to return to his/her seat before
he/she rises and steps to the lectern. The Valedictorian’s speech is dedicated to the future,
looking forward, visualizing what may be. The speech is between 3 to 5 minutes. No
more, no less.
When the Valedictorian has returned to his/her seat, Ms. Carroll will step to the lectern
and will introduce the special guests, beginning with the superintendent. After the
introductions, Ms. Carroll will introduce the superintendent’s part on the program,
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we will now have the Congratulatory Remarks from the
Superintendent.”
The superintendent will deliver his Congratulatory Remarks to the Class of 2016.
When the superintendent has finished, Ms. Carroll steps back to the lectern and says,
“Will the Senior Class of 2016 please rise.” Seniors will rise TOGETHER!
As Ms. Carroll calls the name of each senior, the senior will come up on the stage, will
receive the diploma (cover only at this time), will shake Mrs. Weaver’s hand,
Superintendent Thomas’s hand, Mr. Ross’ hand, and Mr. Pippins’ hand and will exit the
stage. Seniors do not shake hands with the Val or Sal. Timing is crucial, and just one
person stopping to add anything will “clog up the procession.” There will be plenty of
time for seniors to congratulate each other at the end of the ceremony. Once the senior
whose name has been called and has processed across stage to reach the bottom of
the right hand steps, Ms. Carroll will call the next senior’s name.
The Val. and Sal. are the first in line for the diplomas, so as soon as seniors are told to
rise by Ms. Carroll, these two seniors should stand and exit the stage: Val. and Sal. will
step down from the stage to the right side and will remain standing at the bottom of the
steps until Ms. Carroll calls their names separately. Val’s name is called, and he/she
crosses in front of the stage, steps on stage, receives diploma, and assumes same position
- but standing. Same procedure for the Salutatorian.
All of the seniors will be standing. The first row will line up (bumper to bumper) and
will face the stage. All other rows will face forward.
It is most important to remember that they will all turn in their row and face the
stage and will proceed from the left side facing the seniors. (Reminder: Do not have
the seniors start at the far end next to Music Station.)
Each senior will step up on stage to receive his/her diploma. As the one in front is
stepping down the right side of the stage, the next senior should be ready to step onto the
left steps. Ms. Carroll should call the senior’s name as he/she is stepping on the steps.
Each senior steps up on stage, crosses the stage, exits on the right, marches in front of the
stage, and returns to the appropriate row. When all of the first row has returned to their
seats, edging along to their original chair, as each senior goes on stage, Ms. Carroll will
pause, allowing the first row to sit in unison. The lead senior on the row and the last
senior on the row should be able to make eye contact and lead the row in sitting in
unison. Same procedure is followed for each row. Repeat: When the last senior is in
place on the immediate front row, that one row will sit in unison. This procedure will
be repeated row by row until the last rows are complete. This is done in order for all
seniors to have an opportunity to be seen by all, not just the front rows.
Both girls and boys should be very, very careful as they climb the steps with shoes vs.
gown. Tripping is very common for those who try to wear very high-heeled shoes and/or
do not pick up their gowns at the steps. Practice climbing some steps at home in gown
and shoes. It is not easy.
Graduation is the second most solemn occasion in your life, next to your wedding day.
Please know that all senior parents and friends are very proud of each and every senior
who graduates; however, when family and friends try to yell, hoot, and holler, it just
drowns out the next person’s name. Let’s be fair to our fellow seniors and try and make
sure that friends and family do not drown out someone else’s name and time. It is really
important that each senior’s name is able to be heard and recognized as he/she receives
his/her diploma.
Remind parents that the entire front is cordoned off, so parents will not be able to access
the marching area reserved for seniors. Deputies will enforce the Senior-Only Zone.
At the conclusion of the Presentation of Diplomas, the senior(s) who will lead the Alma
Mater will go to the lectern. The senior(s) who will lead the Alma Mater will not return
to his/her seat, after receiving his/her diploma. The senior will cross in front of the
stage, as all other seniors, but instead of returning to his/her chair will stand to the back
of the steps by the stage.
The senior leading the Alma Mater will say, “Everyone, please rise for the Alma
Mater.”
At the conclusion of the Alma Mater, Senior (s) who leads in the Alma Mater will say,
“Everyone, please be seated...” and will descend the stage and will return to his/her seat.
(Alma Mater is printed on the inside of the Commencement exercise program.)
Seniors sit in UNISON – Together!
Mrs. Weaver goes to the lectern and makes a few remarks.
Mrs. Weaver says, “Would
the Class of 2016 please rise.”
The Superintendent rises and gives the Graduation Charge. At the conclusion, the
seniors may toss their mortar boards. Do not aim at anyone. Toss into the air. (This
makes a great picture, so tell your family and friends to be ready for the Photo moment.)
Remember to retrieve your mortarboard, visit with family and friends, and then quickly
make your way to the media center for checkout.
NJROTC will pass out the Commencement programs at the entrance to the gym doors
from lobby and at the entrance to the theater.
Note: 2016 Deputy Edmondson will coordinate with the other deputies for assistance
with designated parking and will assist with senior parking in the bus loop.
District personnel will be on site to determine when the gym has reached full-capacity.
When gym full-capacity is reached, guests will be directed by the deputy to the theater.
Copies to be distributed
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Moriah McGahan , NJROTC Cadet, leading pledge
Maddie Weber , Class President, Welcome
Moriah McGahan, Salutatorian (5/17/16 To Be Confirmed)
Bethany Reynolds, Valedictorian (5/17/16 To Be Confirmed)
Zach Holland and Maddi Weber, Special Music
Amber Freeman -Senior(s) Leading Alma Mater
Mrs. Brandy White
Ms. Megan Carroll
Mrs. Gayle B. Weaver
Mrs. Gerry Pippins
Mr. Tim Huber
Captain Code, Project Graduation
Dean Johnson
Deputy Edmondson